Outlet socket fitting for central vacuum-cleaning systems



May 7, 1963 G. w. MARSH 8,088,484

OUTLET SOCKET FITTING FOR CENTRAL VACUUM-CLEANING SYSTEMS /fw/fA/ro@meas uf. MARS/f May 7, 1963 G. w. MARSH 3,088,484

OUTLET SOCKET FITTING FOR CENTRAL VACUUM-CLEANING SYSTEMS Filed Sept.26. 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M mx/M May 7, 1963 G. w. MARSH 3,088,484

OUTLET SOCKET FITTING FOR CENTRAL VACUUM-CLEANING SYSTEMS Fired sept.ze. 1960 s sheets-sheet s 650/26: w. ,vm/25H /QTTORA/EV United StatesPatent 3,088,484 OUTLET SOCKET FITTING FOR CENTRAL VACUUM-CLEANINGSYSTEMS George W. Marsh, R.R. 2, Port Perry, Ontario, Canada Filed Sept.26, 1960, Ser. No. 58,416 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-360) This invention relatesto improvements in vacuumcleaning apparatus and in particular to acentral vacuumcleaning system in which the vacuum cleaner is permanentlyinstalled in a building. i

The general type of portable vacuum cleaner has many shortcomings thatare obviated by a central vacuum-cleaning system. Regardless of the typeof portable vacuum cleaner it is required to be moved about in carryingout a cleaning operation such as that of cleaning a room in a building.The machine must be manoeuvred around objects in order to avoid strikingand possibly marring them, and it is well recognized that thismanipulation is tiresome and time consuming. Moreover, the cord is aptto become entangled and disconnected from the base plug.

A diflculty of vacuum-cleaning stairs with a portable machine is wellrecognized and there are many other attendant `disadvantages inherent inthe use of a portable vacuum cleaner which are well recognized. Airpollution or processed air is an important problem because the unit isordinarily located in the room or space to be cleaned, and due toincomplete filtration of dust-laden air the processed air returned tothe room may still contain a good percentage of very ne solid particles.|It is therefore necessary to dust the furniture after a vacuumcleaningoperation. Moreover, the residual dust may present a health hazard topersons sensitive to dust. To these disadvantageous features, that ofthe noise factor may be added as portable vacuum cleaners are generallynoisy to the extent of being disturbing especially where quietness isdesired as in the case of sickness.

It is therefore a major object of this invention to overcome thedisadvantages above recounted by providing an improved centralvacuum-cleaning system of a highly ellicient an-d serviceable character.Another important object of this invention is to provide a centralvacuumcleaning system comprising a vacuum cleaner unit permanentlyinstalled in a basement, for example, or other place Where it isinconspicuous and out-of-the-way, and this is preferably in a locationoutside the spaces to be cleaned.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a centralvacuum-cleaning systemY of simple and rugged construction which may beeasily and economically installed in a building. Still another andhighly important object of this invention is to supply a centralvacuumcleaning system of the kind referred to incorporating a number ofoutlets in rooms of the 'building conveniently located for making avacuum line connection with a hose of a cleaning tool and characterizedin that the vacuum pipes or conduits are concealed in the floors orwalls of the building and the outlets are made ilush with a floor orwall surface of a room as by the employment of a flush plate whichrenders the outlet inconspicuous.

y A vacuum-line outlet therefore does not have an objectionableprotrusion to mar the harmony of a furnished room. `On the other hand,it is readily available for supplying a vacuum connection with thecleaning tool hose for use in the room, which, on completion of thecleaning operation in the room, may be detached for carrying out acleaning operation in another room or space to be cleaned. The systemtherefore presents an optimum advantage in that the cleaning tool alongwith its light-inweight hose is all that is necessary for the operatorto handle in carrying out a vacuum-cleaning operation. The hose may beof a length to reach any part of an averagesized room in a house or, onthe other hand, more than one outlet may be provided in a room ifdesirable on account of its size or for any other reason. -In such asystem the use of a wand or other cleaning tool presents no metal partsthat may mar the loor or furniture in a cleaning process.

The invention aims to provide a highly advantageous vacuum-cleaningapparatus of the kind described in which a room may be vacuum cleanedalong with its content-s without producing objectionable dust-laden air;and in which there is easy dust disposal by the use of a disposable dustbag, and in which ample suction power is available and regulated by agovernor valve of the relieve type. My central vacuum-cleaning systemmay be easily installed during the construction of buildings and canalso be readily installed in the average one-story building after thebuilding has been erected.

Having described the major objects and advantages of my inventionsubsidiary objects will become apparent from the ensuing specication anddrawings wherein a selected embodiment of the invention is shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates the invention installed in a two-story buildinghaving a basement;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the novel ttlush outlet for aroom which forms a part of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectionized view of the assembled -ilush outletdepicted in FIG. 2;

PIG. 4 is a View in perspective of a vacuum-regulator vvalve broken awayto show the interior structure;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the valve body of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side-elevational view broken away in section of a clean-outiitting vshowing a plug part detached; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the clean-out fitting showing the plugassembled.

Referring at rirst to the showing lin PIG. 1 of a typical installationof my central vacuum-cleaning system, the building structure comprises abasement S with a iloor 9', a first iloor 10 with rooms 11 and 12, and asecond lloor 13 with rooms 14 and 15. The vacuum-cleaning apparatuscomprises a vacuum-cleaning unit, generally indicated at `16, showninstalled permanently in the basement it` from which vacuum linesextend, such as that generally indicated at 17. It will, of course, beunderstood that any number of such vacuum lines may be employed inaccordance with requirements of a building.

A standard vacuum-cleaning unit is employed which may be of the wellknown commercial type including an exhauster of suitable capacity,indicated at 18 and driven by an electric motor whose circuit iscontrolled by one or more switches in a circuit control of a known kind(not shown). Desirably electric switches will be distributed `in thebuilding in accordance with the outlets of the vacuum lines in the roomsand will serve to enable the operator to conveniently switch control themotor circuit in cleaning operations as the outlets are used. Any knownarrangement of switches of a motor control unit may be employed and thecircuit control for the motor does not form a part of my invention perse. A switch may be located adjacent each outlet for a cleaning tool ifso desired and is intended that selection of an electric-switch systemfor the exhauster motor will be left to the dictates of themanufacturer.

The vacuum-cleaning unit 16 will preferably employ filter paper and adisposable dust bag, and therefore there will be no bag to empty fromtime to time. The vacuum line 17 is shown as connected to the cleaningunit 16 as by exible rubber expansion coupling 2t) for reduction ofnoise and vibration and a similar flexible expansion coupling 21 will beused for the conduit 22 for discharge of filtered air to the outsideatmosphere which extends through an outside wall 23 and terminates inthe egress 24.

The vacuum line 17 and any other similar vacuum lines which may extendfrom the vacuum-cleaning generating unit 16 may have any number ofoutlets for connection with the hose of a cleaning tool. The cleaningtool is illustrated, by way of example but not of limitation, ascomprising a conventional wand 25 and a flexible hose 26. Variouscleaning tools may be employed and these are well known in the art.

It is desirable to employ in the vacuum line 17 a vacuum governorwhereby a partial vacuum of any predetermined amount may be assured.Such a vacuum governor is shown at 27 and detailed in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thevacuum governor is a regulating valve which prevents excessive ysuctionat the outlet. The vacuum valve functions to prevent excessive suctionat an outlet by opening and closing according to the degree of vacuumand thus ambient air is admitted to keep the suction force withindesirable limits. The regulating valve is shown as vertically arrangedfor best results and is connected in the line 17 as by elbow fitting 28and comprises a body 29 providing a chamber 30 open at both ends. One ofthe ends communicates with a suction line and the other provides a valverod passage 31 which is flanked by airinlet ports 32. Said chamber issupplied with an annular valve seat 33 inwardly of said valve rodpassage and said ports '32.

The valve member 34 is freely disposed in said chamber 30 `in the formof a frustrum of a cone and engageable with said seat 33, the engagementbeing normally maintained by a helical compression spring 35 encirclinga valve rod 36. Said valve rod is rigid with the valve member andprojects through said valve rod passage and has a threaded terminus 37which is engaged with a nut 38. Said spring 35 is seated at one endagainst this nut and at the other end on the body 29. Accordingly, thevalve member 34 may be opened under suctional force and regulation ofthis relief valve may be effected by adjustment of the spring tension asby the adjustment nut 38'.

Preferably I employ a vacuum line made up of copper tubing with pipefittings such as an elbow, T, etc., of brass. The smooth passageprovided by copper tubing and brass fittings is desirable and well`suited to such a vacuum system as presenting a minimum of resistance topassage therethrough of dust, litter and other particles which may bepicked up by the vacuum tools in a cleaning operation. However, it is tobe understood that other materials may be employed, such as aluminum forinstance.

Desirably I employ elbows in the conduit of a special clean-out type andthe construction thereof is novel. These novel elbows are indicated at40 and are detailed in FIGS. and 6.

An elbow fitting 40 comprises a body 41 having the usual open ends 42and 43 for connection with the line tubing 44. vIt may be here mentionedthat joints of all fittings are desirably soldered. Said ends 42 and 43are normal to each other and there is a passage 45 continuously curvedthrough a right angle from one of said end openings to the other. Asleeve extension 46 is integral with said body and extends coaxiallywith one said end opening and provides a bore 47 in alignment therewith.The bore 47 is annularly enlarged at its outer end, as indicated at 48,and provides a shoulder 49. A cleanout plug 50 is `slidably fitted inbore 47 and has a concave inner end 51 conforming to the curvature ofpassage wall 45 forming a portion of the wall thereof. At the other endof said clean-out plug there is a knob 52, and adjacent to which thereis an annular enlargement 53 providing a shoulder 54 which abuts theshoulder 49. Means are employed to removably secure the plug in saidsleeve extension desirably comprising pins 55 and 56 radially extendingfrom the enlargement 53 of the plug and engaged in bayonet slots '57supplied in the sleeve 46. In order fto correctly position the clean-outplug in the sleeve the pin 55 is made larger than the pin 56 and thebayonet slots 57 are respectively dimensioned.

It be noted that the clean-out elbows installed at both ends of ahorizontal run provide for easy cleaning of the horizontal run in theevent of clogging. lt is only necessary to remove the plugs 50 forclean-'out purposes.

Now turning to outlets for making .a connection between the vacuum line17 and the hose of a cleaning tool, such as that indicated at 25, aspecial arrangement of conduit fittings and outlet fittings is employedwhereby each outlet fitting is disposed flush with the adjacent surface'area of a support (wall) through which the outlet fitting extends forconnection with the connecting end of a hose and is supplied with aflush plate in order to present an attractive but inconspicuousappearance. Such outlet ttings do not detract from the appearance of aroom and may be placed in la floor or wall. r[his special outlet fittingand the conduit fitting are important features of improvements in such acentral vacuumcleaning system and are novel. The conduit fitting may bea T or an elbow, in the instant disclosure the vacuum line 17 is shownas extending through a partitioning wall 59 of the building .and thereis a T fitting 60 for each of the rooms.

The T fitting 60 which is herein termed a conduit fitting may be of anytype such as a T or elbow and has the conduit fitted in it as bysoldered joints previously referred to. The side openings are in theform of the usual orifices, indicated at 61, for providing a lateralpassage to the socket of the outlet fitting, generally denoted at 62.

The outlet tting is supplied with a bore 63 which is open at both of itsends, there being an inner end 64 and an outer end 65. Said outer endconstitutes a socket which receives the connecting end 66 of theflexible hose belonging to the cleaning ltool 25. A suitable fitting isused at the connecting end of the hose for insertion in the socket 65 asa slip fit and is releasably retained by a looking device shown in theform of a bayonet connection comprising diametrically opposite bayonetslots 68 formed in the bore of the orifice 65 and engageable bydiametrical pins 69 on the end fitting 67 of the hose 26. The bayonetslots do not extend through the wall of the bore but are shallowrecesses which do not provide undesirable openings in the bore thatwould adversely effect the suctional effort of the vacuum line.

The end fitting 67 of the hose is solid and may be made of metal orother suitable material according to dictates of manufacture and Ithereis an annular stop shoulder 70 supplied thereon with a sealing ring 70'of rubber or other suitable material.

The socket is supplied with a radial seating face 71 at its outer endwhich is engaged by the sealing ring 70' on the end of the hose which isbrought about by the engagement of the pins 69 in the bayonet slots 68by which a leak-proof connection is supplied.

In attachment of the outlet fitting to a wall support illustrated as inthe drawings the outlet fitting is positioned to project through an`aperture leading to the outer face of the partitioning wall with thesocket portion 65 slightly projecting through the opening so that theradial seating face 71 is fully exposed for engagement by a sealinggasket or ring 70. A flush plate 72 is detachably secured to the outletfitting to set off .the surrounding area of the outer wall surface ofthe partition and to make the exposed socket portion of the outletfitting attractive in appearance, similar to a fiush plate of anordinary electric wall receptacle. Said flush plate 72 is provided with-a circular aperture 73 to allow it to fit over the outer socket end ofthe outlet fitting. Also provided in the upper portion of said fiushplate is a vertically extending slot 73' which communicates with saidcircular aperture 73. Slot 73 serves to permit a .sealing cap to swingclear of said flush plate in an `opening movement, and the sealing capwill be described later. Additionally said fiush plate is provided withopenings las at 74 to receive screws 75 by which it is attached to anattachment wall 76 integral with the outlet fitting 62. The attachmentwall 76 is disposed at Iright vangles tto the bore 63 and the socketportion 65 of this bore projects together with the radial seating face71 slightly beyond the front face 77 of the Iattachment wall 76. Saidradial seating face 71 is circular in extent as will be best seen froman inspection of FIG. 2.

The attachment wall 76 is shown as supplied at its sides with integralanges 78 which form part of the attachment means. These flanges may havetopped holes as at 79. Said attachment means includes the angle plates80 and 81 shown as supplied with slotted apertures 82 which receive thescrews 83 by which they are attached respectively to said fianges 78.The screws 83 are received in the tapped holes 79 and holes 84 aresupplied in the outturned legs 8S of the angle plates for receivingfastening elements (not shown) whereby the outlet fittings are fastenedto a support such as a 2 x 4" stud forming a part of the room wall 59.It will be gathered that according to this construction an outletfitting may be fastened to a 2." x 4" frame stud in the erection of aWall of a building as by use of either of the angle plates 80 and 811.The attachment wall 76 may have its outer face 77 disposed iiush withthe plaster face of the finished Wall of the building. The ush plate 72when assembled on the outlet fitting conceals the attachment wall 76. Afeature of this construction is that when the outlet fitting is attachedto a support as by the use of one of the angle plates S0, 81, the otherangle plate may be removed and in its place there may be attached a boxof a standard outlet switch which may be used as a part of the electricsystem for controlling the vacuum-cleaning unit I16.

The bore 63 of the outlet fitting communicates with the orifice 61 ofthe conduit fitting 60' by means of a spacing sleeve 86. This tubulation86 is interfitted with the rear end of the bore 63 and is interfittedwith the orifice. Said tubulation is shouldered in the bore 63 as by anannular reduction 86 and there is an interposed sealing ring 87 ofrubber or other suitable material and likewise the said tubulation isshouldered in the orifice 61 as by an annular reduction 88 and there isan interposed sealing ring 89.

This construction Ihas the advantage that the length of the spacingsleeve may be varied to enable the front face 77 of the attachment wall76 to be disposed flush with the corresponding wall surface of the roomwall 59 after the conduit 17 along with the conduit fitting 60 isinstalled in the wall. It will be appreciated that the distance betweenthe face of the wall and the centre line of the conduit may vary yand asa matter of fact will vary with each installation. Therefore someprovision must be made to accommodate the Variation. In making aninstallation in a building the spacing sleeve may be cut to size foreach fitting.

A fastening device is employed to secure the outlet fitting to theconduit fitting `60 and to this end there is shown headed screws 90which fit in holes 91 in the attachment wall 76 and have threadedengagement in lugs 92 provided on the conduit fitting 60. The screwswhen tightened have a clamping effect on sleeve 86 causing it to beforced into sealing contact with the rings 87 and 89.

When the outlet fitting is not in use it is necessary to seal the socket65 which is carried out after each removal of the tool hose 26. Asealing cap 93 is provided for this purpose and is movable betweenclosed and open positions as by hinge connection 93 including a pintle94 and a knuckle 495 which forms a part of the sealing cap. The slot 73'allows the sealing cap to clear the cover plate 72. A detent device isused to hold the cup in its closed position and also in its openposition. The detent device comprises a spring-pressed ball 96engageable in recesses 97, one for the open position and the other forthe closed. The cap is supplied at its inner side with a gasket ofrubber or other suitable material as at 98 for engaging the radialseating face 71 of the orifice 63 and this gasket is secured by a washer99 and rivet 100.

From the preceding description it will be manifest that I have disclosedin a selected form a highly desirable and useful central Vacuum-cleaningsystem which has the facility of operation as explained above and whichis not only highly eicient but also smooth and quiet in operation. `Itis to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precisedetails of construction as herein disclosed and that such changes andvariations may be resorted to as fairly come within the scope of thesubjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. lIn a central vacuum system, a Wall socket assembly for use on anapertured vertical wall, said assembly comprising an outlet fittingincluding a transverse bore terminating at one end in an enlargeddiameter portion forming an annular shoulder thereat, said outletfitting including at least one substantially longitudinal slot on theinner surface thereof opening into the other end of said bore and saidslot continuing with a lateral slotted portion spaced from said otherend of said bore for detachably receiving a conduit having at least onelateral pin received in said slot and lateral slotted portion, at leastone angle plate adjustably -attached to said outlet fitting, said vangleplate including means for mounting it on a wall and further including aslotted mounting portion for receiving a fastener and permittingrelative -adjustment of said outlet fitting with respect to the wallupon which said angle plate is mounted, said outlet fitting including ajournal portion defining a pivot axis disposed above and inwardly of theother end of said bore, a closure fiap pivotally connected in saidjournal portion and including a plate portion sealingly engageable onsaid -other end of said outlet fitting opening, a cover platesurrounding said other end of said outlet fitting bore and detachablyengaged on said outlet fitting, a spacing sleeve sealingly engaged insaid annular shoulder and projecting axially from said outlet fitting, aconduit fitting including an orifice having an internal annularincreased diameter portion forming a shoulder, said sleeve beingreceived on and sealingly engaging said fitting shoulder and projectingaxially from said orifice, and connecting elements extending frombeneath said cover plate and extending through said outlet fitting onopposite sides of said spacing sleeve and terminally connected to saidoutlet fitting for retaining said outlet and conduit fittings in clampedrelation at opposite ends of said spacing sleeve.

2. The structure of claim l, said closure flap including a recessportion adjacent said journal portion, said outlet fitting including avertical support portion spaced from said journal portion, and a springurged detent element on said vertical support in alignment with saidiiap recess portion and detachably engageable therein for retaining saidclosure flap in an open position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HopeJan. 3, 1911 Dillon Oct. 3, 1911 Thurman Aug. 27, 1912 Heuser Mar. 14,1916 10 Kellogg Feb. 5, 1918

1. IN A CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEM, A WALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY FOR USE ON ANAPERTURED VERTICAL WALL, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN OUTLET FITTINGINCLUDING A TRANSVERSE BORE TERMINATING AT ONE END IN AN ENLARGEDDIAMETER PORTION FORMING AN ANNULAR SHOULDER THEREAT, SAID OUTLETFITTING INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE SUBSTANTIALLY LONGITUDINAL SLOT ON THEINNER SURFACE THEREOF OPENING INTO THE OTHER END OF SAID BORE AND SAIDSLOT CONTINUING WITH A LATERAL SLOTTED PORTION SPACED FROM SAID OTHEREND OF SAID BORE FOR DETACHABLY RECEIVING A CONDUIT HAVING AT LEAST ONELATERAL PIN RECEIVED IN SAID SLOT AND LATERAL SLOTTED PORTION, AT LEASTONE ANGLE PLATE ADJUSTABLY ATTACHED TO SAID OUTLET FITTING, SAID ANGLEPLATE INCLUDING MEANS FOR MOUNTING IT ON A WALL AND FURTHER INCLUDING ASLOTTED MOUNTING PORTION FOR RECEIVING A FASTENER AND PERMITTINGRELATIVE ADJUSTMENT OF SAID OUTLET FITTING WITH RESPECT TO THE WALL UPONWHICH SAID ANGLE PLATE IS MOUNTED, SAID OUTLET FITTING INCLUDING AJOURNAL PORTION DEFINING A PIVOT AXIS DISPOSED ABOVE AND INWARDLY OF THEOTHER END OF SAID BORE, A CLOSURE FLAP PIVOTALLY CONNECTED IN SAIDJOURNAL PORTION AND INCLUDING A PLATE PORTION SEALINGLY ENGAGEABLE ONSAID OTHER END OF SAID OUTLET FITTING OPENING, A COVER PLATE SURROUNDINGSAID OTHER END OF SAID OUTLET FITTING BORE AND DETACHABLY ENGAGED ONSAID OUTLET FITTING, A SPACING SLEEVE SEALINGLY ENGAGED IN SAID ANNULARSHOULDER AND PROJECTING AXIALLY FROM SAID OUTLET FITTING, A CONDUITFITTING INCLUDING AN ORIFICE HAVING AN INTERNAL ANNULAR INCREASED DI-